Reinforced case for gauges



Aug. 20, 1957 F. P. STROBL REINFORCED CASE FOR GAUGES Filed Sept. 8, 1953 INVENTOR. Wffifib/Z B Y 103; a, r, M a.

llll lllll l llll 1H] IHHIIH'IHHIHHHH llllll United States Patent REINFORCED CASE FOR GAUGES Fred P. Strobl, Park Ridge, 111., assignor to Jas. P. Marsh The present invention relates to gauges and has special reference to high pressure safety gauges designed to permit the escape through the rear of the casing without injury to the gauge mechanism of excessive pressure such as that resulting from an explosion.

Safety gauges of this type are commonly formed with a casing having large portions cut out in the back on each side of a central portion that is for connection to a supporting post. A thin disc of readily deformable material such as light gauge metal, is secured over the back of the casing covering the openings therein. Any sudden increase in pressure within the gauge bends the disc outwardly to uncover the openings and permit the escape of the pressure.

While such safety gauges permit the escape of pressure through the back of the casings and thus prevent injury to the gauge mechanism therefrom, the casings, due to the openings in the back thereof, are so weakened that they may be easily deformed, particularly by being bent adjacent the upper end of the post to which they are connected.

Safety gauges of this type are Widely used, such as on hydrogen and oxygen bottles or other containers whose contents are used in a relatively short period of time. This means that the gauges and associated piping and valves are frequently changed. During this changing operation the gauge and associated parts are commonly placed on the floor or some other support with a substantial part of the weight resting on the gauge. This often results in a bent casing and jammed works.

In the present invention the casing is formed with the usual openings in the back on each side of a central mounting portion. However, the material from the openings instead of being removed, is forced inwardly forming reinforcing ribs or flanges about said openings including along the sides of the central portion. Due to these reinforcing ribs the case, particularly the central portion, is very strong and when employed in gauges, the resulting gauge can withstand long, hard and rough handling without being injured or rendered inoperative or inaccurate.

An object of the present invention is to provide a safety gauge which is strong and will withstand hard, rough usage without injury, although having openings in the back of the casing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a strong, rigid casing for safety gauges having large openings in the back thereof.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a gauge casing having openings in the back thereof with reinforcing ribs about the edges of said openings.

A still further object is to provide a gauge casing having openings in the back, in which substantially all of the material originally in the back of the casing is bent to form reinforcing ribs about the openings therein.

Still another object is to provide a gauge casing hav- "ice ing a greatly reinforced central portion for connection to a post with openings on each side thereof.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and claims when considered with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a gauge embodying the present invention:

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the gauge shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view partially in section of the gauge shown in Fig. l; V

Fig. 4 is a top plan view partially in section of the gauge shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of a casing embodying the present invention mounted on a post;

Fig. 6 is a front perspective view of the casing shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the thin disc covering the rear of the casing.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a casing embodying the present invention and a safety gauge having such casing as a part thereof. The gauge comprises a post 11 threaded on its lower or inner end for connection to a container or other part of a pressure system, such as a supply line. The post, upon which the other parts of the gauge are supported, is preferably substantially square or rectangular in cross section and has a central opening communicating with the interior of the pressure system.

The present casing 12 is disc-shaped having a circular back 13 and forwardly extending sides 14. As shown particularly in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the back 13 of the casing is provided with openings 15 and 16 on opposite sides of a central supporting portion 17 extending diametrically between opposite sides of the casing. In forming the openings 15 and 16 the rear of the casing on opposite sides of the central portion 17 is slit, although little or none of the material is removed. Thereafter, the portion of the back 13 originally forming part of the casing is forced forwardly forming relatively high parallel reinforcing ribs or flanges 18 at each side of the central portion 17 and a lower flange or rib 19 adjacent the outer sides of the openings 15 and 16. Thus the ribs 18 and 19 define the openings 15 and 16.

In the preferred form shown in the drawings, the flanges or ribs 19 are substantially parallel to the adjacent casing walls 14, and the portion 17 on the back of the casing is made slightly wider than the post 11 so that the post will just fit between the inner sides of the ribs 18 as illustrated in Fig. 4. Openings 21 are formed in the central casing portion 17 through which screws 22 may be inserted and then threaded into tapped openings provided therefor in the upper part of the post. The casing 12 is mounted on the post with the outer or upper end of the post extending only a relatively small part of the distance along the rear central portion 17 of the casing, so that it does not take up space desired for the gauge mechanism.

Any suitable type of pressure indicating mechanism such as that including a Bourdon tube 23 may be mounted on the front of the post. Such mechanism includes a suitable dial 24 and an indicator 25 which is actuated to indicate the pressure in the system. A thin readily deformable metallic disc 26 is secured over the rear of the casing 12 by the screws 22 passing therethrough.

The ribs 18 on each side of the central portion 17 of the back of the casing extend forward a greater distance than do the side ribs 19, thus greatly strengthening the central portion of the casing particularly. Despite the forward depth of the ribs 18 there is ample room in the casing for the gauge mechanism.

Through the use of the present casing a safety gauge, although having the required openings in the back of the casing, will be very strong and able to withstand hard, rough usage without the casing being deformed or otherwise injured and the operating mechanism rendered inoperative or inaccurate. At the same time the openings permit the escape of any excessive pressure and prevent damage to the mechanism from this cause.

While particular embodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described, it Will be understood of course, that the invention is not to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made, and it is contemplated therefore by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A casing for a pressure gauge mounted on a supporting post, said casing having a back with sides extending forwardly thereof for receiving therein indicating mechanism, said back having spaced openings of substantial extent defining therebetween an elongated central portion with forwardly extending integral strengthening ribs at opposite edges of said central portion spaced apart a distance not less than the Width of said post, said central portion with the ribs at opposite edges thereof forming a channel for receiving therein said supporting post.

2. A casing for a pressure gauge mounted on a supporting post, said casing having a back with sides extending forwardly thereof for receiving therein indicating mechanism, said back having spaced elongated openings defining therebetween an elongated central portion with forwardly extending substantially continuous integral strengthening ribs defining said openings, the rib portions along opposite edges of said central portion being spaced apart a distance not less than the width of said post, said central portion with the ribs at opposite edges thereof forming a channel for receiving therein said supporting post.

3. In a gauge, a post for connection at one end to a pressure system and a dished circular casing having a back with sides extending forwardly thereof for receiving therein indicating mechanism, said back having spaced elongated openings of substantial extent defining therebetween an elongated substantially diametrically extending central portion with forwardly extending substantially continuous integral strengthening ribs defining said openings and forming with said central portion a post-receiving channel, the rib portions at opposite edges of said central portion being spaced apart a distance not less than the width of said post, said casing being secured to said post with said channel portion fitting over said post, and a stiff, thin, readily deformable disc secured at one side to the rear of said casing over the openings therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,192,574 Schubert July 25, 1916 1,488,034 Crocker Mar. 25, 1924 2,215,013 Mickelberg Sept. 17, 1940 2,384,928 Kahn Sept. 18, 1945 2,522,007 Willach Sept. 12, 1950 

